Folding machine



Jan. 27, 1942. c, A. NEwHALL FOLDING MACHINE Fild Feb. 2e. 1940 4 sheets-sheet 1 Jain.' 27, 1942'. c. A. NEWHALL 2,270,891

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 La 6M@ MMM. 2V m17 @Ag/KM Jan. 27, 1942. c, A, NEWHALL 2,270,891

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 27, 1942. c. A. Nr-:wHALL 2,270,891

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MFIIZ.

` the adjacent face of the Patented Jan. 27, 1942 FOLDING MACHINE 'Carl A. Newhall, Peabody, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 26, 1940, Serial No. 320,855

20 Claims.

This invention relates to folding machines and is illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type illustrated and ldescribed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,702,598, granted February 19, 1929, on an application filed in the name of P. R. Glass. Machines of this type are commonly employed in folding the margins of parts of shoe uppers.

These machines commonly employ a gage block having an upturned plow surface against which the margin of the Work is pressed, a gage finger cooperating with the gage block to determine the extent to which the margin of the work is deflected upwardly and consequently the width of fold which is to be formed in the margin of the material. A folding nger reciprocates across the path of feed of the work and at an angle to the supporting surface to fold the margin of the work against a creaser foot positioned adjacent thereto. The creaser foot is mounted for yielding movement away from the supporting surface so as to accommodate various thicknesses of the material being folded. The creaser foot may be mounted in an inclined slide so as to move in a path which is parallel to the path of movement of the folding finger to maintain the distance between the folding finger and the creaser foot the same at all times. Such an arrangement is illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,243,077, granted May 27, `1941, upon an application of C. T. Batchelder.

Located beyond the creaser foot and the folding finger in the direction of feed of the work is a hammer and anvil which cooperate to press the fold and to provide an intermittent feed of `the work. The face of the hammer adjacent to the creaser foot is commonly at an acute angle with respect to the direction of feed so as to minimize the strain in the material as the fold is being pressed adjacent to the portion which is held upstanding by the -creaser foot and the folding finger and to facilitate handling of the material as pleats are formed around an outside curve. The supporting means for the creaser foot is pivotally mounted so that the creaser foot may be tilted upwardly to facilitate the introduction of a new work piece in the machine Because of the proximity of the creaser foot and the hammer there is a possibility of interference between the hammer and the creaser foot if the latter is raised during the reciprocation of the hammer by reason of the fact that the plane of movement of the creaser foot is not parallel to hammer. To avoid this danger and in accordance with one feature of this invention, the creaser vfoot support is pivoted about an axis which is perpendicular to the adjacent face of the hammer so that the distance between the creaser foot and the adjacent face of the hammer remains the same during upward movement of the creaser foot. This arrangement of the pivotal axis of the creaser foot may be effectively combined with the inclined slide for the creaser foot so that there Will at no time during the operation of the machine be any interference between the creaser foot and the other elements of the machine.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, provision is made for adjusting the normal position of the creaser foot in the line of feed and normal to the line of feed without changing the ability of the lower end thereof to grip the work on straight edges. The operating parts of present day machines are usually enclosed by a casing. The hammer operating mechanism includes a yelding member whereby the blow of the Ahammer on the work is softened land an adjustment for this yielding member is providedwhich adjustment is located within the casing of the machine necessitating opening of the casing if adjustment of the yielding member yis desired. A second adjustment is also provided for adjusting the proximity with which the hammer approaches the anvil. In order to overcome the necessity of removing a portion of the casing to make either of the aforementioned adjustments, and in order to permit a volume of lubricating oil to be maintained therein, a novel connection is provided between the mechanism enclosed by the casing and the hammer, making possible either of the aforementioned adjustments from the outside of the machine. This arrangement forms a further feature of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will be described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of one A form of folding machine embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the operating head of the machine illustrating a modification of the creaser foot support, certain of the operating parts being broken away to disclose more clearly `the relation of the other elements;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the head of the machine illustrating the pivotal mounting for the creaser foot support;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line IV--IV of Fig. 2 illustrating the mounting of the gage finger;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the creaser foot support of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the operating head of Fig. 1 illustrating the mechanism for impart` ing feeding movements to the hammer and anvil;

Fig. 10 is a partial side elevation of the machine illustrating the actuating member for adjusting the length of feeding movements of the hammer and anvil;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line XI-XI of Fig. 1 illustrating the mechanism for operating the work gripping member;

Fig. 12 is a view on line XII-XII of Fig. 1 showing the mechanism by which the snipper knife is operated; and

Fig. 13 is a plan View of a portion of thehammer and anvil mechanism.

The frame of the machine comprises a hollow base I0 forming an oil reservoir, this base being mounted on a base plate I2 and having a laterally extending arm I4. `The arm I4 includes a removable end portion I6 on which is secured a work-supporting plate I8. Removably secured to the upper portion of the base I is a neck 2l! which overhangs the arm I4 and terminates in a removable two-part head 22. .y

Supported on the outer end of the arm I4 is a gage block 24 (Fig. 1) having an upturned plough surface 26 for deiiecting upwardly the margin of the work to be folded. The extent to which the margin of the work is deflected upwardly'is determined by a gage finger 28 which is mounted on the lower portion of the head 22 in a manner to be described. Since this gage finger determines the extent to which the margin of the work is deflected upwardly, it also determines the width of the fold which is to be formed therein. Avfolding finger 3D (Figs. 2 and 6) is mounted for reciprocation in the arm I4. an acute angle with the upper surface of the arm I4 and folds the margin of the work which has been defiected upwardly by the gage block 24 against the adjacent surface of a creaser foot 32 (Figs. 1, 2, and 6). During the upward movement of the folding finger 38, the work is held against movement on the work-support I8 by means of a gripper member 34 (Fig. 1) which moves from a position within' the upper surface of the arm I4 to a position above this surface in vwhich it -grips the work against the under surface of the creaser foot 32. v

Located beyond the folding finger in the drection of feed of the work is a hammer 36 (Figs. 1, 2, and 6) which cooperates with an anvil 38 (Fig. 6) to press the fold formed by the folding finger 38. After the vfold has been pressed between the hammer and anvil, the gripper member 34 moves downwardly to release its hold on the work and the hammer and anvil then move as a unit to feed the work past the gage block 24. The work is accordingly folded and fed in a step-by-step manner generally as described in the aforementioned Glass patent. A snipper knife 40 (Figs. 1 and 8) ,is mounted on the head 22 and is arranged to be moved downwardly This finger reciprocates in a path formingv under the control of the operator for snippng the margin of the Work when a sharp incurved portion thereof is being folded. This snipping knife moves between the gage block 24 and the folding finger 30 and the adjacent surface of the gage block is formed as a shearing surface with which the knife cooperates when moved downwardly to snip the margin of the work. The mountings and operating mechanisms for the various folding instrumentalities will now be described in detail.

A main drive shaft 42 (Fig. 1) is journaled in the base I'and arm I4 of the machine and is provided at its right end with a pulley 44 by which it may be connected by a belt 45 to any suitable driving means. The gripper member 34 is mounted on the outer end of a rock shaft 48 journaled in the arm I4 and extending parallel to the main drive shaft 42. A release arm 50 (Figs. 1 and 11) is secured to the inner endv of the shaft 48 and forms means by which the shaft 48 may be manually rocked by the operator to move the gripper member 34 downwardly when desired. The release arm 5I] includes a downwardly extending portion 52 the lower end of which is rounded (Fig. l1) and acts as a cam follower, this portion of the arm engaging the periphery of a cam 54 mounted on the drive shaft 42. The cam 54 is integral with a collar 56 (Fig. l) adjustably secured to the shaft 42 by means of a set screw 58. A spring 88 (Fig. 11) engages a recess in the underside of the release arm 50, the lower end of the spring engaging a screw 62 threaded in the arm I4. This spring maintains the arm 52 in engagement with the cam 54 Aso that rotation of the cam with the shaft 42 will impart a rocking movement to the rock shaft 43 to move the gripper member 34 intermittently into and outyof the upper surface of the arm I4. The shaft 48 may be manually .moved by the operator by applying pressure to the release finger 58 when it is desired to hold the gripper member inl its lower position. 'Ihe timing of the movements of the gripper member by the shaft 48 may be varied by adjusting the collar 5B with respect to the shaft 42.

The folding finger 30 (Fig. 6) is formed at the upper end of a slide 63 mounted for movement in a slideway 64to reciprocate from a position in which the folding linger is above the table to a position in which it is below the upper surface thereof. A link 66 is pivoted at one end to the lower portion of the slide 63 and at the other end to an arm 68 which is formed as a rearward extension of a cylindrical oscillating member 10. Extending from the other side of the member I0 is an arm 'I2 pivoted at 'I4 to the end portion I6 of kthe arm I4. The member I8 is arranged `for oscillation about the pivot 'I4 bylmeans of a 30 which is guided in its movement by the slideway 64. The gripper-operating cam 54 is so adjusted on the shaft 42 that the gripper 34 holds the work against the under surface of the creaser foot 32 during the movement ofthe folding finger 30 to fold the kmargin of the work against the adjacent surface of the creaser foot.

The anvil 38 is supported by means of a hollow l shaft journaled in the arm I4 (Figs. 6, 7, 11,

yand 13) and arranged to be oscillated about its axis by mechanism to be described. The anvil 38 is mounted on the outer end of an arm 82 which extends rearwardly and downwardly as indicated in Fig. 6, the lower end thereof terminating in a split clamp 84 (Fig. 7 secured to the shaft 80 by means of a screw 66. As shown in Fig. 13, the arm 82 has integral with it a laterally and forwardly extending arm portion 88, the outer end of which extends parallel to the arm 82. The outermost portion of the arm 88 is bored to receive the reduced end of a shaft 90, the arm 82 having an aligned bore through which the opposite end of shaft 90 extends. A depending arm 94 (Figs. 6, 7, and 13) is rotatably mounted on the shaft 90 and has a reduced portion extending between the shaft and the arm 82 which portion forms a bushing between the shaft and the arm. The shaft 90 is accordingly supported by and journaled in the arm 82 and the exten-` sion 88 thereof.

The hammer 36 is rigidly connected with the shaft 90 by means of an arm 96. As the shaft 80 is oscillated, it will cause oscillation of the anvil 38 and by reason of the mounting of the hammer, a similar motion will be imparted thereto so that the hammer and anvil are moved together along the line of feed. During this movement of the hammer and anvil, the hammer is adjacent to the anvil with a portion of the fold in the margin of the work pressed and held therebetween. The mechanism by which the hammer is moved toward and away from the anvil will now be described.

'I'he arm 94, which is rotatable with respect to the shaft 90, is formed at its lower end with a cylindrical bore for receiving a pin |00. This pin extends parallel to the shaft 90 and has a portion projecting laterally from the arm 94 to which is connected the outer end of a reciprocable shaft |02 (Figs. 1, 6, 11, and 13) extending through the hollow shaft 80. The lower end of the arm 94 has a horizontally and rearwardly projecting portion |04 (Fig. 6) having a vertical bore therethrough for receiving a screw |06. This screw has a reduced portion |08 over which is mounted a spring ||0, the lower end of which engages the shoulder formed by the reduced portion which forms an abutment therefor. Secured to the shaft 90 between the extension 88 of the arm 82 and the arm 94 is a block ||4 having a horizontally and rearwardly extending portion overlying the rearward extension |04 of the arm 94 the upper end of the spring I |0 bearing against the underside of the block. The rearward extension of the block I4 is formed as a split clamp and a screw ||6 is provided for tightening the block on the shaft 90, the lower end of this screw passing into the spring to prevent accidental displacement of the spring from the block. As the shaft |02 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, the arm 94 is moved in a clockwise direction about the shaft 90 whereupon the extension |04 thereof moves upwardly. This upward movement acts through the spring ||0 to move the block ||4 in a clockwise direction thus causing a similar movement of the shaft 90 to which the block is rigidly secured, whereupon the hammer 36 which is secured by the arm 96 to the shaft moves downwardly toward the anvil.

The extent of clockwise rotation of the block ||4, and consequently of the downward movement of the hammer 36, for any given position of the arm |04 under the influence of the spring |08 is limited as follows: The block ||4 has a position.

depending portion ||8 through which is adjustably threaded a screw |20. This screw engages a laterally projecting stop |22 integral with the arm 94 so that for any given position of the arm 94, movement of the block ||4 by the spring ||0 `is limited in accordance with the position of the screw |20. Accordingly, as the shaft |02 is moved rearwardly of the machine or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, to the limit of its movement, the proximity with which the hammer 36 approaches the anvil will be determined by the screw Since this screwis located adjacent to the outer end of the arm I4, it may be adjusted easily by the operator in accordance with the thickness of the material which is being folded. The spring l0 through which the pressing motion is imparted to the hammer 36, provides a yielding connection between the shaft |02 and the hamvmer to soften the blow delivered by the hammer after the work has been engaged thereby. The force exerted by the spring ||0 may be adjusted easily by the operator by turning the screw |06 located near the outer end of the arm |4 and accessible exteriorly of the machine. A nut |28 on the screw |06 locks the screw in the desired It will now be seen that the adjustments of the path of the hammer during its movement toward the anvil and of the effect of the spring I0 in softening the blow of the hammer are both accessible exteriorly of the machine and are arranged for easy operation by the operator. The position of the anvil on the shaft may be adjusted to vary the locus of the path of feed of the Work by loosening the screw 86 which is similarly accessible whereby the point at which the work is gripped between the hammer and anvil relative to the folding finger 30 may be controlled.

In order to cause reciprocation of the shaft |02 within the hollow shaft 80 to move the hammer 36 toward the anvil, the shaft 42 is provided with an eccentric surrounded by a strap |32 (Fig. 1) from which depends a pitman |34 pivotally secured at its lower end to a lever |36. This lever is journaled on a stud |38 supported in the base |0 of the machine and the opposite end of the lever is connected by a link |40 to the lower end of a lever |42. This lever is journaled on a stud |44 mounted in the base of the machine and the upper end of this lever is connected to the inner end of the reciprocable shaft |02. As the shaft 42 rotates, the shaft |02 will be reciprocated in time relationship with the folding finger 30 and the gripper member 34 which are also driven from the shaft 42,

The hollow shaft 80 which is oscillated to impart feeding movements to the hammer and anvil is also connected to the shaft 42. For this purpose an eccentric |50 (Fig. 9) is mounted on the shaft 42 and is surrounded by a strap |52 having a depending arm |53 the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a lever |54. This lever is journaled on a stud |56 mounted in the base of the machine. The opposite end of the lever |54 is connected by means of a pin |58 within the forked upper end of a link |60. The opposite end of the link |60 is also forked as indicated in Fig. 1 and is connected by means of a pin |62 to the upper end of an arm |64. The pin |62 also carries the lower end of a link |66 pivotally connected at its upper end to an arm |68 secured to the shaft 80. The arm |64 forms with the link |66 a toggle through which oscillation is imparted to the shaft 80 as the pin |62 connecting the arm |64 and the link |66 is moved more or less out of alignment with the opposite ends of the arm and link respectively upon rotation'of the shaft 42. The lower end of the arm |64 is supported by a pin |10 which is in turn supported by an arm |12 xed to a shaft |14 (Fig. 1) journaled in a hollow bearing sleeve |16 inthe base of the machine. Upon rotation of the shaft |14, the arm |12 is swung about the axis of the shaft thus moving the pin |10 on which the arm |64 is supported so as to cause the pin |62 connecting the arms of the toggle to move more or less in alignment with the ends of the toggle arms whereby the amount of oscillation ofthe shaft 80 for a given movement of the link may be varied and thereby to vary the amount of feeding movement of the hammer and anvil,`

The shaft |14 extends outwardly from the base of the machine and is connected by a rod |80 (Fig. to an arm |82 suitably connected to a treadle. This arm is urged upwardly by any suitable means such as a spring (not shown), and the extent of upward movement is limited by the engagement of an arm |84 rigid with the shaft |14 with an adjustable stop |86 threaded through a bracket |88 fixed to the base of the machine. When the arm |80 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 10, the pin |10 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 9, which is the normal operating position thereof. If a longer feeding movement of the hammer and anvil is desired the shaft |14 is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig.

. 10) by downward movement of the treadle rod |82 so as to carry the pin |10 (Fig. 9) ,more nearly into alignment with the pin |62 and the upper end of the link |66 of the toggle. Movement of the shaft |14 in this direction is limited by the engagement of the arm |84 with a stop |90 received by one of several holes in the lower portion of the bracket |80 whereby the position of this stop may be varied to adjustably limit the -maximum movements of the hammer and anvil.

It will be noted that the mechanisms for operatingy the reciprocable shaft |02 for causing movement of the hammer toward and away from the anvil and for oscillating the shaft 80 for imparting feeding movements to the hammer and anvil are entirely enclosed by the base |0| and the neck 20 forming a cover therefor. The base may therefore be lled with oil to maintain the various operating parts and connections properly lubricated whereas the Various adjustments here- `tofore described are al1 located so as to be accessible exteriorly of the casing, thus simplifying the various adjustments that may be desired during the operation of the machine.

Since the hammer and anvil are reciprocated along the line of feed at a high rate of speed, it is desirable to provide a cushioning means tol prevent overthrow of this mechanism. This is provided by a spring-pressed plunger |94 (Fig. 7)

the forward end of which engages a flat portion |96 at the lower end of the anvil arm 82. Therefore, as the anvil is oscillated by the shaft 80, it acts upon the spring-pressed plunger |94 which minimizes the danger of the anvil traveling farther than it 'is desired.

The head 22 at the outer end of the neck 20 is formed of an upper portion 200 secured to the outer end of the neck by means of a screw 202 and a lower portion or hanger 204. The hanger 204 is adjustably secured to the upper portion 200 by'means'of screws 205 passing through slots 201 in the upper portion of the head providing for adjustment of the hanger lengthwise of the neck 20 or transverse with respect to the direction of feed of the work. f

The hanger 204 provides a pivotal support for the creaser foo-t 32. This creaser foot is formed at the lower end of a dovetail slide 206 (Figs. 1 and 5) which is arranged for vertical sliding movement in the outer end of a carrier 208. This carrier includes an adjustable gib 2|0 which forms an adjustable bearing surface for one side or" the slide 206 and is connected to the carrier by means of screws 2|2. A bracket 2|4 (Figs. 1 and 6) is secured to the carrier by means of screws 216 and has a portion overhanging the upper end of the slide 206. A screw 220 is threadedly received by the overhanging portion of the bracket 2|4 and bears against a spring 222 is a bore in the upper end of the slide, thus urging the slide andthe creaser foot downwardly toward the arm` I4. A spring 224 (Fig. 6) located between the bracket. 2|4 and the head of the screw 220 is provided for preventing accidental turning of the screw. Downward movement of the creaser foot slide toward the work-support is limited by means of the head of a screw 230 threaded through a projection 232 of the creaser foot carrier. An arm 234 carried by the slide 206 (Figs. 5 and 6) is arranged to engage the head of the screw 230 after the creaser foot has moved downwardly an amount determined by the adjustment of the screw to prevent further downward movement of the creaser foot. A spring 236 is located between the projection 232 of the creaser foot carrier and the head of the screw 230 to prevent accidental turning of this screw.

The creaser foot carrier is mounted on the forward end of an arm 240 for adjustment in the direction of feed of the work. As noted in Fig. 6 the forward end of the arm 240 has a rib 242 which fits within a groove in the adjacent surface of the creaser foot carrier and a screw 244 is provided for securing the parts together in the desired relationship. The arm 240 extends within the hanger 204 and is pivoted therein by means of conical bearings 246 (Fig. 3)

formed at the ends of screws 248 threaded through the walls of the hanger. These screws provide a pivotal support for the arm 240 which pivotal support is at an angle to the line of feed of the work for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The arm 240 adjacent to the pivotal support thereof has an upstanding projection 250 (Fig. 3) against which bears a spring-pressed plunger 252 slidable in a hole through the rear wall of the hanger 204. A screw 254 threaded through a bushing 256 which is in turn threaded through the rear wall of the hanger provides an adjustable abutment for the rear end of the spring 258 which acts upon the plunger 252. This spring acts to rotate the arm 240 about its pivotal support in a direction to move the creaser foot toward the work-support. This movement of the arm is limited by means of a screw 260 (Figs. 1, 3, and 6) passing through a rearward extension of the arm 240 and engaging the underside of the wall in which the plunger 252 is mounted. The rearward extension of the arm 240 terminates in a thumb piece 262 by which the operator may tilt the arm against the force of the spring 258 to raise the creaser foot away from the work-supportto facilitate the introduction of a new work piece thereunder. The extent of upward movement is limited by engagement of the rearward end of the plunger 252 (Fig. 3) with theY forward end of the bushing 256 the outer end of which is provided with a knob by means of which it may be adjusted.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the upright face of the hammer which is transversely disposed with respect to the direction of feed and toward the operator is at an acute angle with respect to the line of feed which is at a right angle to the arm S6. This inclination of this face of the hammer which is adjacent to the creaser foot is commonly employed in folding machines of this; type to minimize strains on the work as it is being pressed by the hammer adjacent to the portion which is being held in an upstanding position by the folding finger and the creaser foot. This arrangement of the hammer face also facilitates handling of the work when it is being folded around an outside curve and pleats are being formed therein. In prior machines, the creaser foot support has been pivoted about an axis extending parallel to the line of feed and accordingly when moved upwardly to facilitate the entrance of a new piece of work, the line of movement of the creaser foot was not parallel tothe plane of movement of the adjacent face of the hammer. The result of this is that if the creaser foot is tilted upwardly bythe operator while the hammer is in operation, there is a possibility that the creaser foot will be engaged by the hammer, thus causing damage to the machine. As shown in Fig. 3, the pivotal support for the creaser foot is perpendicular to the upright face of the hammer adjacent to the creaser foot so that the creaser foot will move in a plane parallel to the adjacent face of the hammer when tilted upwardly by the operator, thus avoiding any interference between the hammer and the creaser foot at this time, even though the hammer is in operation. The slidable connection between the creaser foot and the arm 240 permits adjustment of the creaser foot toward and away from the adjacent face of the hammer without changing the relationship therebetween as the creaser foot is tilted upwardly by the operator and without affecting the ability of the creaser foot to engage the work.

The creaser foot support may if desired be arranged as indicated in Fig. 2 and as described in the aforementioned Batchelder patent so that the creaser foot will move in a path parallel to the path of movement of the folding finger 30 as work of varying thicknesses passes through the machine to maintain the distance between the creaser foot and the folding finger the same at all times during the operation of the machine. When the creaser foot yields in a vertical path normal to the plane of the work-support in response to the passage of work of increased thickness thereunder, the distance between the creaser foot and the folding finger decreases with the result that the folding finger exerts a pressure on the creaser foot causing the latter to be tilted with its carrier about the pivotal support in the hanger 204. This movement of the ceraser foot away from the folding finger at this time exerts a drag on the work tending to move the work with it away from the gage finger withthe result that the width of the folded margin decreases so that there may be some difficulty in obtaining a fold of uniform width in the margin of a piece of material of varying thickness. By permitting the creaser foot to yield in a direction parallel to the path of movement of the folding finger as in Fig. 2, this danger is greatly reduced. Accordingly, by so arranging the creaser foot slide and by pivoting the creaser foot support about an axis perpendicular to the adjacent face of the hammer, the relationship between the creaser foot and the adjacent portions of the folding nger and the hammer remains substantially the same during the operation of the machine.

The gage finger 23 which determines the extent to which the margin of the work is upturned by the gage block 24 is adjustably secured by a screw 210 (Figs. 1, 2', and 4) to a stud 212 pivoted in the lower end of the hanger 204. This stud has a shoulder engaging one side of an arm 214 in the lower end of the hanger and is held therein by an abutment 216 secured to the other end of the `stud by a screw 218. This stud is provided with a rearwardly extending handle member 280 terminating in a thumb piece 282 by which the stud may be rotated to raise the lower end of the gage finger toffacilitate the insertion of a workpiece therein. The gage finger is normally held downwardly by a spring 284 (Fig. 2) connecting the .arm 280 to the hanger 204. The forward end of the gage finger rests on the upper surface of the lower portion of the creaser foot which limits downward movement thereof. This mounting of the gage finger on the stud 212 permits adjustment thereof and replacement if desired by a different gage finger.

'Ihe snipper knife 40 is also supported by the hanger 204, the knife being adjustably mounted in the lower end of a lever 300 (Figs. 1 and 8), which is pivotally supported in the hanger by means vof the conical bearings 302 formed at the ends of screws 304 threaded through bosses in walls of the hanger. For supporting the knife against lateral displacement in the direction of feed during its swinging movement, a support 306 (Fig. 8) is-provided for engaging the rearward side of the knife. This support is formed at the end of a screw 308 threaded through a lug 310 (Fig. 6) extending forwardly from the hanger 204. A nut 3l2 is provided for retaining the screw and the support in the desired position.

The upper end of the lever 300 (Fig. 1) is connected to a reciprocable rod 3|4 slidable through Vertical walls 3|6 and 318 forming the front end of the neck 20 and the rear side of the head 22, and through a partition 320 extending vertically through the neck 20, this partition cooperating with the top portion of the neck and with the base I0 in forming an enclosing casing for the drive shaft and associated mechanism. 'The rod by way of the rod 3|4. In case any oil should pass through by way of this rod, it will drain back into the casing. For this purpose the partition 320 is formed as shown in Fig. 1 with an offset cupped portion for receiving any oil which might drip from the rod 3l4 whence it will pass by way of an aperture 328 back into the casing. A spring abutment 330 is connected to the rear end of the rod 3I4 and a compression spring 332 surrounds the rod 3I4 between the abutment 330 and the partition 320 to urge the rod rearwardly which in turn causes movement of the snipper knife upwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. A stop 334 is adjustably carried by the rod 3l4 and engages the outer end of the bushing 326 to limit the rearward Amovement of the rod 3I4 by the spring 332.

The rear end of the rod 3|4 is pivotally connected to an arm 336 (Figs 1 and 12) pivotally fulcrumed on a shaft 338 supported by a boss 339 carried by the neck portion of the frame of the machine. The arm 336 includes an extension 348 below the shaft 338, the lower portion of the extension 340 having spaced arms between which is pivotallymounted a latch 342. This latch is spring biased downwardly by a spring 344 to a position in which it is located between a pair of spaced arms, one of which is indicated by the reference character 346, which extend laterally from an arm 348 journaled on a pin 358 secured tc the upper end of a bracket 352 extending from the base of the machine into the neck portion 20. The arm 348 is arranged to be oscillated about the pin 358 by the drive shaft 42. The drive shaft carries an eccentric 354 surrounded by a strap 356 which is pivotally connected by a pitman 358 to an arm 360 (Fig. r1) integral with the arm 348. Thus, a rocking motion is imparted to the armv 348 upon rotation of the shaft 42 and when the latch 342 is in its downward position between the extensions 346 of the arm 348, a .similar motion will be imparted to the arm 336 to which the rear end of the rod 3|4 is connected, thus causing actuation of the snipper knife to snip the margin of the Work.

The latch 342 is normally maintainedin thel position shown in Fig. 12 by a lever 368 (Fig. 1) pivoted at 362 to the neck portion 20 of the machine, in which position it is out of engagement with the extensions 346 of the arm 348. The forward end of the lever engages an extension 364 of the latch 342 and moves the latch up- Wardly under the influence of a springy pressed plunger 368 engaging the rear end of the lever 368. A stop pin 310 (Fig. 1) located below the rear end of the lever 360 limits the movement thereof by the plunger 368. In order tomove the lever 360 against the force of the plunger 368 to permit downward movement of the latch 342, a rod 312 vertically movable in a bearing 314 engages the underside of the lever 360 opposite the plunger 368. This rod may be connected to a treadle mechanism by means of which an upward movement may be imparted thereto by the operator whenever operation of the snipper knife is desired. The connection between the knife and the shaft 42 formed by the latch 342 is such that the upper part of the casing comprising the neck 2l] and the head 22 may be readily removed from the base of the machine whenever desired.

Since the turn-buckle 322 by which the length of the rod 314 is adjusted is located outside of the casingv housing the various drive mechanisms, it is readily accessible to the operator and adjustment of the operating range of the knife 48 may be made without opening the casing.

It will thus be seen that all the adjustments for the machine, namely, the adjustments for the hammer and anvil mechanism including the length of feed, the path of feed, the proximity with which the hammer approaches the anvil, the severity of the blow delivered by the hammer on the work, the stroke of the knife, and the timing of the gripper member are all accessibley exteriorly of the casing so that normally during theoperation of the machine there will be no necessity to gain access to the interior of the casing which will preferably be lled with @il to lubricate the bearings and other parts.

tially parallel to the path of movement of the folding finger, and means pivotally supporting said creaser foot about an axis which forms an acute angle with the line of feed.

3. In a folding machine, a member arranged to contact the Work intermittently and impart a step by step feed thereto, said member having a Work contacting face one edge of which is arranged at an acute angle to the normal direction of feed, a creaser foot arranged to contact the work adjacent to said edge, and means pivotally supporting said creaser foot about an axis perpendicular to said edge.

4. A folding machine having a creaser foot about which the margin of a work piece is folded, a hammer adjacent to said creaser foot arranged to press the fold in the margin of the Work piece, the face of the hammer adjacent to the creaser foot being arranged at an acute angle with respect to the line of feed of the work, and means pivotally supporting said creaser foot for movement in a plane parallel to the ad` :jacent face of the hammer.

5. A folding machine having a creaser foot about which the margin of a work piece is folded, a folding finger arranged to fold the margin of the work piece against said creaser foot, said creaser foot being supported for yielding movement in a path substantially parallel to the path of movement of the folding nger, a hammer adjacent to said creaser foot arranged to press the fold formed by the folding finger, the face of the hammer adjacent to the creaser foot being arranged at an acute angle with respect to the line of feed of the work, and vmeans pivotally supporting said creaser foot for movement in a plane parallel to the adjacent face of the hammer.

6. In a folding machine, a reciprocable folding finger arranged to form a fold in the margin of a work piece, a creaser foot cooperating therewith and against which the margin is folded, means supporting said creaser foot for yieldlng movement in a path substantially parallel to the path of movement of the folding finger, feeding and fold pressing means comprising a cooperating hammer and anvil, said hammer being mounted adjacent to said creaser foot, the face of the hammer adjacent to said creaser foot being arranged at an acute angle with respect to the line of feed of the work, means pivotally mounting said creaser foot supporting means about an axis perpendicular to said adjacent face of the hammer, and a spring urging said creaser foot supporting means in a direction to maintain the creaser foot in work contacting position.

7. In a folding machine, a hollow base, an overhanging arm, means for forming a fold in the margin of a work piece, comprising a folding finger' carried by said base and a creaser foot carried by said arm, a reciprocating hammer projecting upwardly from said base and arranged to press the fold against the body of the work, an anvil carried by said base and arranged to support the work against the action of the hammer, mechanism within said base for causing said hammer to reciprocate toward and away from said anvil, a spring for softening the blow delivered by said hammer, and means accessible exteriorly of said base for varying the effectiveness of said spring.

8. In a folding machine, fold pressing means comprising a cooperating hammer and anvil, a shaft on which said hammer is journaled, an arm journaled on said shaft, means for oscillating said arm about said shaft, and a spring connecting said arm and said hammer, said spring urging said hammer for movement with said arm.

9. In a folding machine, fold pressing means comprising a cooperating hammer and anvil, a shaft on which the hammer is journaled, an arm journaled on said shaft, means for oscillating said arm about said shaft, a spring connecting said arm and said hammer and urging said hammer for movement with said arm, and means for adjusting the force exerted by said spring.

10. In a folding machine, fold pressing means comprising a cooperating hammer and anvil, a shaft on which said hammer is journaled, an arm journaled on said shaft, means for oscillating said arm about said shaft, a spring connecting said arm and said hammer and urging said hammer for movement with said arm, and an adjustable member for determining the normal relationship of said hammer and arm.

11. In a folding machine, fold pressing means comprising a cooperating hammer and anvil, a shaft on which said hammer is journaled for movement toward and away from said anvil, an arm journaled on said shaft, means for oscillating said arm about said shaft, a spring connecting said hammer and arm and urging said hammer toward said anvil, and an adjustablestop for limiting the movement of said hammer toward said anvil relative to said arm,

12. In a folding machine, fold pressing means comprising a cooperating hammer and anvil, a shaft on which said hammer is journaled for movement toward and away from said anvil, an arm journaled on said shaft, means for oscillating said arm about said shaft, a spring connecting said hammer and arm and urging said hami mer toward said anvil, an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of said hammer toward said anvil relative to said arm, and means for adjusting said spring to vary the force With which the hammer is urged thereby toward the anvil.

13. In a folding machine, means for folding the margin of a work piece, means for intermittently feeding a work piece by said folding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a casing enclosing said mechanism, and means accessible exteriorly of the casing, enabling adjustment of the position assumed by said feeding means at the beginning of the feeding movement to vary the locus of the path of feed.

14. In a folding machine, means for folding the margin of a Work piece, said folding means including a folding finger and a cooperating creaser foot, hammer and anvil mechanism adjacent to said creaser foot for pressing the fold and feeding the work, means pivoting said creaser foot for movement heightwise of the anvil, and means independent of said last-named means for supporting said creaser foot for adjustment ina plane parallel to the Work support and in the direction of the line of feed.

15. In a folding machine, a supporting surface, a folding Vfinger for folding a margin of a work piece supported on said supporting surface, a creaser foot cooperating with said folding finger and against which the margin is folded, hammer and anvil mechanism for pressing the fold and feeding the work over the supporting surface, means pivoting said creaser foot for movement heightwise of the supporting surface, and means independent of said last-named means for supporting said creaser foot for adjustment in a plane parallel to the work support both in the direction of the line of feed and normal to the line of feed.

16. In a folding machine, means for forming a fold in the margin of a work piece, a reciprocating hammer arranged to press the fold against the body of the work, an anvil arranged to support the work against the action of the hammer, a casing forming a reservoir arranged to contain a supply of lubricating oil, mechanism located within the casing and arranged to be lubricated by the oil therein, said mechanism causing reciprocation of said hammer toward and away from said anvil, means for softening the blow delivered by the hammer on the work, and means accessible exteriorly of said casing for adjusting said last named means.

17. In a folding machine, means for folding the margin of the Work piece, means for intermittently feeding the work piece past said folding means, a casing forming a reservoir arranged to contain a supply of lubricating oil, means for operating saidrwork feedingr means, said means being located within said casing and arranged to be lubricated by the oil therein, and means accessible eXteriorly of said casing enabling adjustment of the position assumed by said feeding means at the beginning of the feeding movement to vary the locus of the path of feed.

18. In a folding machine, means for folding the margin of a work piece, a hammer arranged to press the fold against the body of the work, an anvil arranged to support the work against the action of the hammer, a casing forming a reservoir for containing a supply of lubricating oil, means located within said casing for reciprocating the hammer toward and away from said anvil and for reciprocating the hammer and anvil as a unit to feed the work through the machine, a spring arranged to soften the blow of the hammer on the work, and an adjusting means accessible exteriorly of said casing for adjusting said spring and for varying the proximity with which the hammer approaches the anvil.

19. In a folding machine, a work support, a folding finger reciprocable through the work support for folding the margin of a work piece, a creaser foot adjacent to the path of movement of the folding finger and against which the margin of the work is folded, a gripper member within the work support arranged to grip the work against the creaser foot during the folding movements of the folding finger, means for intermittently feeding the work over the work support between the folding movements of the folding finger, means for reciprocating said gripper member toward and away from saidv creaser foot to release the hold on the work during the feeding movements of the feeding means, and means enabling adjustment of the timing of the gripper member.

20. In a folding machine, a creaser foot, a reciprocable folding finger cooperating therewith to fold the margin of a work piece thereagainst, a gripper member arranged to grip the Work against the creaser foot during the folding movements of the folding nger, a rock shaft on which the gripper member is mounted, a cam follower secured to said rock shaft, a drive shaft, a cam mounted thereon, a spring urging said caml follower into engagement with said cam, and means enabling adjustment of said cam relative to said drive shaft whereby the timing of the gripper member may be Varied.

CARL A. NEWI-IALL.

' CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,270,891. January 2'?, 191W..

' CARL vA. NEWHALL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, second column, line 22, for "yelding" read yielding-q page b., first column, line h2, before "movements'Y insert--feedilng--q second column, line-17, for "is" read ,i; page,` first column, line 65 for "ceraser" read creaser; and that the said Letters Patent should'beread with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case inthe Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this'lOth day of March, A. D. 1914.2. l

Henry Van Arsdale, l (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

